- Oyetola emphasized the urgency of collective global action to preserve ocean health for future generations.
- Oyetola highlighted Nigeria’s position as a coastal nation that views the ocean as a source of immense natural wealth
- Oyetola announced that Nigeria has signed the BBNJ Agreement
President Bola Tinubu has called for the rapid ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and a significant boost in funding for blue economy initiatives, stressing the importance of protecting and sustainably managing the world’s oceans, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking on behalf of the President at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasized the urgency of collective global action to preserve ocean health for future generations.
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The conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, has drawn participation from over 120 member states under the theme “Accelerating Action and Mobilising All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean.”
According to a statement by Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Oyetola highlighted Nigeria’s position as a coastal nation that views the ocean as a source of immense natural wealth, food security, jobs, and sustainable livelihoods.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 14, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Oyetola announced that Nigeria has signed the BBNJ Agreement and has begun the ratification process. He stressed that full implementation of the treaty—especially the goal of protecting at least 30 percent of the global ocean through Marine Protected Areas by 2030—is critical to advancing SDG 14.
He also warned that achieving these goals requires a strong global commitment to transparent monitoring and enforcement systems that can produce real ecological benefits.
Highlighting Nigeria’s regional leadership, Oyetola noted that the country has led West African efforts to develop a proposal for a highly protected High Seas Marine Protected Area in the Convergence Zone of the Canary and Guinea Currents.
In alignment with the conference’s goals, he expressed Nigeria’s support for the draft Nice Ocean Action Declaration and Plan, urging the international community—particularly investors and development partners—to provide the technical and financial resources necessary to support blue economy development in the Global South.
He stressed that contributions in blue finance and the transfer of marine science and technology are essential to support better policy-making and foster sustainable ocean-based industries.
Oyetola also outlined several domestic initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ocean governance. These include the adoption of a National Blue Economy Policy to drive sustainable investment in ocean industries; a national roadmap for BBNJ treaty ratification and implementation; the revision of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to align with global goals; the development of a National Policy on Marine Plastic Pollution; and the advancement of hydrographic surveys and modern charting to support safer maritime operations in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
He further reiterated Nigeria’s determination to tackle transboundary ocean threats such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, marine dumping, and inadequate monitoring systems.
He called for enhanced regional cooperation, data collection, and capacity-building in ocean services.
Closing his remarks, Oyetola reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to implementing ocean-related multilateral agreements and urged all nations to take bold, urgent action to protect marine ecosystems and prioritize SDG 14 for the benefit of future generations.
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